In a chat with the media about his new team, the Golden State Warriors, Jimmy Butler spoke on the process that brought him next to Stephen Curry. Speaking candidly, Butler played down the notion that he only wanted the Suns and spoke positively about his new championship teammates.
“This is a great choice and the best part about everything is that I never say anything so nobody actually really knows what’s going on because it’s never comes from my mouth,” said Butler. “So out of everything that’s been going on, I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to be able to play meaningful basketball again. I’m able to go out and do what I love and I’m happy to do that for an organization like Golden State.”
What attracted Butler to the Warriors, and Steph in particular, is his history of winning and the culture of excellence he has established within the organization.
“They always play winning basketball,” said Butler. “They’ll do whatever it takes to win, and that’s what I respect most about these guys. They’ve won at so many different levels, at the highest level, and they’ve done it multiple times. So not only can I bring some things to this team I think they can teach me a whole lot.”
Butler, 35, is finally at the end of a bitter breakup with the Miami Heat. After six years with the team, he lost his trust with Pat Riley and their strained relationship led to a dramatic breakup that played out over several months.
Finally, as one of the final trades of the season, Butler found a new home with the Golden State Warriors. Initially, there were rumblings that Jimmy was dead set on singing with the Phoenix Suns and that he was willing to do anything to make it happen.
Whether the trade fell apart or his interest was overstated, Butler never landed with the Suns and he’s a Warriors now as Stephen Curry’s newest co-star.
While it may not have been his first choice, Butler is embracing the Warriors and he’s accepted his role in the lineup alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, who are both 4x NBA champions.
This season, with averages of 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 54.0% shooting, Butler may not be an All-Star caliber player but he can make an enormous impact with his perimeter defense and shot-making off the dribble.
At 25-25, the Warriors are 11th in the West and they need all the help they can get to make one last title push for Steph Curry. Even at this stage, Butler can help this team compete at the highest level and his ability to rise in the playoffs will be useful as the Warriors try to battle in the West bracket.
For the foreseeable future, Butler is going to act like a student and soak in all that he can from Curry and Draymond, who have won more championships together than many teams have over the past 20 years. If Jimmy wants a piece of that success, he’ll have to follow their lead and fill whatever role the Warriors need.
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